splinter

[ splin-ter ]

noun

1. a small, thin, sharp piece of wood, bone, or the like, split or broken off from the main body.

   Synonyms: sliver

2. splinter group.

verb (used with object)

1. to split or break into splinters.
2. to break off (something) in splinters.
3. to split or break (a larger group) into separate factions or independent groups.
4. Obsolete. to secure or support by a splint or splints, as a broken limb.

verb (used without object)

1. to be split or broken into splinters.
2. to break off in splinters.

   Synonyms: split, part, separate

splinter

/ ˈsplɪntə /

noun

1. a very small sharp piece of wood, glass, metal, etc, characteristically long and thin, broken off from a whole
2. a metal fragment, from the container of a shell, bomb, etc, thrown out during an explosion

verb

1. to reduce or be reduced to sharp fragments; shatter
2. to break or be broken off in small sharp fragments

Other Words From

• splinter·less adjective
• splinter·y adjective
• un·splintered adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of splinter¹

1350–1400; Middle English < Middle Dutch or Middle Low German; splint

Word History and Origins

Origin of splinter¹

C14: from Middle Dutch splinter; see splint

Example Sentences

The splintered fluorine atoms, the researchers report, are safely sequestered by reacting them with potassium hydride in solution to form potassium fluoride, a nontoxic ingredient in toothpaste.

From Science Magazine

One afternoon shortly after the vote, members of the splinter group gathered outside of San Francisco, hiking through the chaparrals of the San Bruno hills, and plotted what to do next.

From Salon

The trio were hugely impressive in the team's age-grade World Cup win in the summer, with set-piece dominance splintering France in the final.

From BBC

Deconstructing the way an idea spreads through society helps scientists understand what makes communities come together or splinter apart, Dunivin said.

From Los Angeles Times

The cousins’ journey — which starts with a guided Jewish heritage tour of Warsaw and Lublin, after which they splinter off to Dory’s rural birthplace — covers as much emotional territory as it does physical.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• disintegrate
• fracture
• rive
• shatter
• smash
• split